Volkswagen supersizes C-segment in China with 2018 Lavida Plus

AUTO NEWS

Volkswagen goes big in all-new 2018 Lavida Plus for Chinese market

by Marcus De Guzman

April 12, 2018 14:57

What does Volkswagen have in its C-segment category besides the Jetta? This car: the Lavida. It serves as the brand's compact sedan in China and is now available in a much bigger model. Say hello to the 2018 Lavida Plus.

Borrowing styling cues from such models like the all-new Arteon and Passat, the Lavida Plus features an evolutionary redesign from its predecessor and sits on a new platform.

Beginning with its front fascia, the Lavida Plus comes with full LED headlights, a scuplted hood and a massive front grill. Meanwhile, the rear gets quarter-flanking taillights reminiscent of the 2019 Jetta. Apart from those, the Lavida Plus also comes with swooping lines, flared wheel arches, new alloy wheels and a couple-like roofline.

Size-wise, the 2018 Lavida Plus measures 4670mm long, 1806mm wide, 1474mm tall and has a 2688mm wheelbase. Side-by-side with the standard Lavida, the Plus sedan is longer by 65mm, wider by 41mm, shorter by 16mm and has a slightly shorter wheelbase.

Inside, the Lavida Plus now comes with Volkswagen's sleek new cabin design. While not as sleek as its European counterparts, the Lavida Plus does come with a dual gauge cluster design and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

With China's emphasis on rear passenger comfort, Volkswagen made the rear seat cushions slightly bigger for a more comfortable ride. There is also better knee and leg support thanks to the extended wheelbase. Other in-car features present inside the 2018 Lavida Plus are the electronic parking brake, automatic climate control with rear vents, tire pressure monitoring system, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.

Under the hood, the 2018 Lavida Plus is available with three engine options, a 1.5-liter inline-four that pushes out 114 PS, a 1.2-liter TSI which also produces 114 PS and a more powerful 1.4-liter TSI that doles out 148 PS. Available transmissions for the Lavida Plus include a five-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic. All models come auto stop/start for improved fuel efficiency.

The 2018 Volkswagen Lavida Plus will join the standard Lavida and Lavida Classic and will be manufactured by Shanghai Volkswagen, the joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen AG.